What This Means
This research surveyed 100 people at a safety-net sexual health clinic to understand how they feel about using artificial intelligence (AI) tools — like ChatGPT — to get information and support related to sexual health, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections. The majority of participants already had experience using AI for various purposes, and many said they would be open to using it for sexual health promotion. Notably, preference for AI versus in-person clinic counseling did not differ significantly based on demographic factors such as race, ethnicity, or sexual identity, suggesting broad openness to AI across groups.
However, more than half of participants (56%) expressed distrust about sharing personal information with AI systems, which was identified as a major barrier to wider adoption. The study population was largely LGBTQ+ (84%) and included racial and ethnic minority groups who are often disproportionately affected by sexual health disparities and may face barriers to accessing traditional healthcare.
This research suggests that AI tools could be a viable supplement to traditional sexual health services, particularly for underserved populations who may have limited access to clinics or who prefer anonymous information-seeking. At the same time, for AI to be effectively adopted in this context, developers and healthcare providers would need to meaningfully address concerns about data privacy, confidentiality, and trust.